The type of fabric used to make a boat cover or PWC cover affects how durable, breathable, and waterproof it will be. Not all boat covers are equal in quality. Below are some factors that affect the quality of a cover.

Type of Fabric

Boat cover made with marine-grade polyester fabric

1. Poly/Cotton Blend

The cheapest boat covers are made from a poly/cotton blend. This fabric breaks down faster and doesn’t protect the boat as well as other types of fabric. Covers made from a poly/cotton blend are typically only under warranty for a year and are only suitable for mild climates and minimal use.

2. Marine-Grade Polyester

Marine-grade polyester is a much more durable fabric than poly/cotton blend. These boat covers are slightly more expensive, but the durability is well worth the cost. Polyester boat covers offer an ideal balance of strong protection and cost effectiveness. They resist wear and tear and mildew growth much better than poly/cotton covers.

3. Acrylic

Acrylic boat covers are high end covers that offer superior protection; however, they are also more expensive to produce, which means that their cost is much higher than for other types of fabric.

Fabric Weight and Weave

In most cases, the heavier the fabric, the more durable it will be. However, durability is also affected by the tightness of the weave. A boat cover with a lighter weight and tighter weave may be more durable than a cover with a heavier weight but a coarser weave.

Fabric Color

Reds and yellows tend to fade the fastest. Blues seem to keep their color the longest. A UV protective coating will make the color last even longer.

This is our third in a series of winter storage tips to help you protect your boat during the harsh winter months.

Winter Boat Storage Tip #3: Don’t let pockets of rainwater collect on your boat cover.

Don't let rainwater collect on your boat cover.

Support your boat cover with a support frame from a marine store or a homemade PVC boat cover frame. Make sure there are no pockets where rainwater can collect. Put a tuck in the cover or reinforce the frame where necessary. You can even use life jackets or seat cushions to keep the cover from sagging in specific areas.

This is our second in a series of winter storage tips to help you protect your boat during the harsh winter months.

Winter Boat Storage Tip #2: Brush the snow off your boat cover every time it snows.

Never let the snow build up on your boat cover.

After each snowfall, brush the snow off the boat cover. Make it part of your routine along with clearing the driveway and sidewalks. You can use a push broom to drag the snow off the cover.

Don’t let the snow pile up more than a few inches. The more snow on your boat cover, the heavier it weighs and the more likely it will damage the cover.

Don’t wait for the snow to melt off the cover. If it melts and then freezes again, it will turn into ice, which is even heavier than snow and harder on your cover.

This is our first in a series of winter storage tips to help you protect your boat during the harsh winter months.

Winter Boat Storage Tip #1: Never cover your boat cover with a tarp or plastic sheet.

Never cover your boat cover with a tarp,
except for temporary protection.

Another reason not to cover the boat cover with a tarp is because tarps are tough to secure tightly enough to keep the wind from lofting the tarp. When the wind catches the tarp, it rubs on the boat cover and wears down the material, leaving thin spots and even holes.

A quality boat cover, on the other hand, is designed for a tight, secure fit. As long as the boat cover is installed correctly, the wind will not be able to tear at or destroy the cover.

The one exception to this rule is if you need to temporarily throw a tarp over the boat cover to protect it for a short period of time, for example, if you are painting the house or doing other home improvement projects near the boat or if you need to protect the boat cover from sap dripping from the trees (although it’s best to avoid parking your boat under trees that are known to drip sap).

Heavy snow can damage your cover.
Brush snow off the boat cover regularly.

First off, avoid parking the boat under a tree. As snow falls off the branches, it will land on the boat cover, and the more snow that collects on the cover, the more damage it can cause. Also, in the spring, the sap from the tree can drip onto the cover, which means you will have to wash the cover or replace it if the sap damages the fabric.

Support the cover with a boat cover support, whether a homemade PVC frame or a ready-made frame from a supply store. The supports keep the boat cover from sagging under the weight of snow or rain, and they allow moisture to run off the cover instead of collecting in puddles. Make sure the pole supports are secure and the cover is tight to prevent pockets where rain could collect.

Never put a plastic tarp on top of the boat cover (except to protect the cover temporarily during painting, roofing, or other house and yard work). The tarp compromises the cover’s breathability, trapping moisture inside your boat, where it can cause major damage and mold growth.

Don’t just wait for the snow to melt off the cover. If the weather turns colder, the snow can start to melt, then turn into a heavy block of ice. If the weather turns warmer, the melted snow can turn into huge puddles of water that, if left to stand, can seep through the cover. Water that is left to collect on the cover will collect dirt and cause the cover fabric to rot. Make sure that rain and other water can easily run off the cover without getting stuck in folds or pockets.

Brush the snow off the boat cover every time it snows. Don’t let the snow build up over the winter. The weight of the snow can damage your cover. Clean off the snow with a broom or large brush.

Keep your boat cover clean to prevent mildew.

The true culprit is the combination of moisture and the dust or dirt that collects on top of the cover. Mildew thrives in a dirty environment, which means that keeping your boat cover clean is the best way to prevent mold and mildew from taking over.

You can cut down on the need for deep cleaning by brushing off debris and rinsing your cover with a hose once a month. This slows down the buildup of dirt and dust and helps prevent debris from becoming ingrained in the cover fabric.

Keeping your boat and storage cover dry is another way to fight mildew. Make sure the inside of the boat is completely dry before installing the boat cover. The boat cover should be stored in a dry, protected area when not in use. Don’t store the cover inside your boat, where it is more susceptible to moisture.

If you store your boat outside, the cover MUST be breathable to allow trapped moisture and condensation to evaporate. Moisture trapped inside the boat creates ideal conditions for mold and mildew growth.

In order for the cover to “breathe” properly, it must be clean and free of debris. You should also never throw a tarp or plastic cover on top of your boat cover. This will block the air flow and trap moisture inside.

How durable are DuraShield Boat Covers?
Our trailerable boat covers are made from heavy duty, tight weave polyester, made to withstand the forces of nature and the stress of highway travel. Our boat covers come with a 5 year warranty, so you have the assurance that if anything does go wrong with your cover during normal use, we will replace your cover for free.

Will it cover my outboard motor?
The DuraShield boat cover is not designed to protect your outboard motor; however we do sell a separate Trailerable Boat Motor Cover for 2-25 hp outboard motors.

How do I secure my cover for towing my boat on a trailer?
Tie-down straps are provided with your DuraShield boat cover. Secure the straps over the cover and underneath the boat to secure the cover for trailering. Use all of the straps provided for the best protection.

How can I prevent mold and mildew from growing on my boat cover?
Keep the cover clean. Avoid letting water, snow, dirt, and other materials accumulate on top of the cover. Do not roll or fold the boat cover for storage unless it is completely dry. Also, do not cover the boat cover with a plastic tarp or other material, as this will compromise the breathability of the cover.

How do I measure my boat to find the right size cover?
Measure the center length from bow to stern. Do not measure up and over windshields. Then measure the beam width from side to side at the widest part of the boat.

Will the boat cover fit over my windshield?
Yes. Our boat covers are designed to fit over the standard windshield on most boats.

Will the boat cover fit over my cabin or center console?
No. Our boat covers are designed for V-hull, fish/ski, inboard/outboard boats, and other similar boats. The cover will not provide proper protection for cabin or center console boats.

Is your boat cover looking a little shabby? A dirty boat cover will deteriorate faster than it should, and it won’t provide the same level of protection as a clean boat cover.

Follow these step-by-step instructions for cleaning your boat cover:

1. Brush off excess dirt from your boat cover.
2. Lay the boat cover out on the grass or driveway. (You can also wash the boat cover while it’s still on the boat.)
3. Hose it down.
4. Hand wash the boat cover with mild soap (such as liquid dish soap) and cold to lukewarm water. (NOTE: Using harsh detergents may cause the boat cover fabric to deteriorate faster than the average boat cover life.)
5. Let the cleaning solution soak into the fabric.
6. Scrub stains gently with a soft bristle brush.
7. Rinse the boat cover thoroughly with clean water. Do not allow the boat cover to dry until all the soap is rinsed out of the fabric.
8. For deeper cleaning, use a pressure washer, set at less than 200 psi (a higher psi can damage the fabric).
9. Let the cover air dry completely before folding or storing it.

After a thorough cleaning, or after several years of use, your boat cover may require a fresh coat of water repellent and UV protectant. 303 High Tech Fabric Guard™ comes highly recommended for protecting marine boat covers.

Follow these step-by-step instructions for re-treating and protecting your boat cover.

1. Only apply 303 Fabric Guard™ to a cover that is completely dry.
2. Re-coat your boat cover in an area that is well ventilated and sheltered from the wind.
3. Apply the fabric coating in a thin, even layer.
4. Allow the boat cover to dry completely.
5. Apply a second coating of Fabric Guard™. Two thin, even coatings of fabric protectant are more effective than a single heavy coating.

When you’re thinking about where to store your boat, there are several factors to consider:

• Protection from vandals and thieves
• Protection from the elements
• Convenient access to your boat
• Distance from storage location to boating area
• Your budget

Protect your boat during storage with a quality marine boat cover.

There are basically two types of off-site storage: outdoor and indoor. Some marine storage locations offer outdoor dry dock storage near the water’s edge. This is convenient if you go boating in that lake or river the majority of the time. If you choose to dry dock your boat outdoors, ask about the protection offered for your boat. Is there a 24-hour surveillance system? How will your boat be secured?

If you store your boat outside, make sure you use a high quality marine boat storage cover to protect your boat from the elements. Outdoor storage can be hard on your boat. If possible, consider indoor marine storage. Try to find a storage location near where you usually use your boat. If you normally travel several hours to get to your favorite boating area, consider storing your boat locally in that area. This will save you the trouble of trailering your boat over long distances and also save on gas. If you boat in several different areas, you may find it more convenient to store your boat close to home.

Some storage places, both indoor and outdoor, offer extra services such as cleaning and winterizing your boat, preparing it for boating season, performing regular maintenance, and transporting your boat to the water. If you don’t want to worry about taking care of your boat and you don’t mind paying for someone else to care for it, these are great options for easy boat storage.

FAQs on material thickness for boat covers, jet ski covers, motorcycle covers, ATV covers, and golf cart covers.

What determines the thickness of a cover?

“Denier” is the term used to describe the thickness of a material. The thicker the cover material, the higher the denier.

Are thicker covers better?

Thicker covers are better for outside storage. They’ll stand up better under the wear and tear of rain, snow, sun, and the elements. For inside storage in protected areas, thinner storage covers work just fine.

What is the recommended denier for indoor and outdoor storage covers?

For outdoor storage covers, a thickness of 300-600 denier is generally sufficient. For indoor storage covers, a thickness of 150-300 denier provides adequate protection.

What about breathability?

The thicker a storage cover is, the more difficult it is for air to flow through the cover. Without adequate venting, a thick storage cover will trap condensation inside the cover, possibly resulting in moisture damage. Most manufacturers include a venting system to make a thick cover breathable. The vent allows air and moisture to escape from underneath the cover while preventing moisture from entering.

How much does a quality storage cover cost?

The higher the denier, the more you should expect to pay. If your motorcycle or boat is in a fairly protected area, you may be able to get away with a thinner, lower cost cover. If you store your motorcycle or boat outdoors, invest in a thick, high quality storage cover with vents. It will cost you a little more up front, but the quality of protection will save you money in the long run.